A thrilling premise... with a suspenseful soundtrack... marred by weak special effects.
Produced back in 1957, this low-budget British sci-fi film was done with an eye toward U.S. audiences. It was therefore logical for the Brits to cast Hollywood star Forrest Tucker in the role of a brilliant American scientist.
No, I guess it really wasn't.
Released in England as 'The Strange World Of Planet X', the story involved a remote English lab where researchers kept messing with hyper-intensive magnetism. They inadvertently create a breach in the Earth's natural magnetic field, allowing cosmic radiation to penetrate a forest full of insects. Faster than Forrest Tucker could say "imponderables", the little critters underwent a mutation that left them living large and hungry.
A real pity about the special effects in this segment. Especially at the end, where the film projection of the spider was switched off and the rear screen was clearly visible.
